Motion picture camera and the like



De 8, 1931- A. s. HOWELL MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1928 Maf/@0.

Dec. 8,l 1931; l A 5 HOWELL 1,835,493

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Dec. 8, 1931. A. s. HOWELL' 1835A93 MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKEFiled Feb. 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 scribed;

Patented Dec. 1931v UNITED l STATES v'PATENT OFFICE ALBERT S. HOWELL; OFCHICAGO, ILLINOI S, ASSIGNOB T0' THE BELL & HOWELL COM- PANY,OF CHIGAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS MOTION PICTURE CAMERA ANDTHE LIKEApplication led February 6, 1828. Serial No. 252,165.

My invention relates to motion picture cameras although not limitedtorthis use alone, and relates particularlj7 to film guide means, thegeneral object of the invention residing in the-provision of simple,effective,

land ydependable film guiding means which affords quick and convenientlacing and unlacing of a film thereon.

With this object-in view myv invention confeatures of novelty in theconparts b which thesaid object and certain other o jects, hereinafterappearing, are effected, all as fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings- Figure 1 motion picture camera with the coverthereof removed and with parts broken'away shown in section;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of F igure 1; t

tion similar to Figure l and showing certain parts in differentpositions than those in which they are shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional View on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the film guide gate of the camera,hereinafter de- Figure 6 is a partial section on the line 6-96 of Figure4; i

igures 7 and 8 are respectively end and side elevationsoffthe film guidegate bearing stud of the camera, hereinafter described;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of one of the film guardassemblies.;l

Figure 10 is a v tion as hereinafter described;

Figure 11 is a partial sectional viewv on ct members, hereinafter deis apartial side elevation of a l `igure 3 is an enlarged partial sideelevapartial section similar to Figure 9 showing a part in a differentposia' perspective view of one of larly Figures 1 and 2 thereof, 1camera casing open at one side, and this open side is closed by a dooror cover 2 removably attached in'closed position on the casing by meansof a suitable releasable locking mechanism generally indicated atA 3.Secured in the casing'is`\ a mechanism frame plate 4 which is disposedinwardly of the open side of the casing and in parallelism with theplane of the open side. The frame plate 4 `carries a pair of verticallyspaced film reels 5 within the casin by means unnecessary tobedescribed, t ese reels being revoluble and axially removable in theusual manner and being retained against axial removal bythe door orcover 2 when in closed positionon the casing.

The reels 5 are disposed in film feeding alinement, and a pair ofvertically spaced revolublefilm sprockets 6 are disposed within thecasing between the'reels 5 in film feeding alinement therewith andadjacent respective thereof.

nisin. A lm 12 is fed from the upper reel 5 'under and about the uppersprocket 6, thence in a compensating loop to the upper end of theintermittent feed guide 7, thence from the lower end of the guide 7 in acompensating loop and over and about the lower designates a r Anintermittent lm feed exposure guide, generally indicated at 7 inSprocket 6, and thence to the lower film-reel 5 upon which it isrewound, the lower film reel 5 being driven as is usual to rewind thethereon. See Figure 1. In order that the film 12 maybe maintained inproper relation with each film reel 5 and adjacent sprocket 6 thefollowing film guard and retaining means is provided and inasmuch as thefilm guard and retaining means of each reel and its adjacent sprocketare substantially the same, except as hereinafter noted, but one suchmeans will be described, it being understood that such description isapplicable to both and like characters of reference such means o-n thedrawings.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 9 to 12 in. elusive, a stationary filmface guard member 13'is secured on the outside of the frame plate 4, asdesignated at 14, and extends about in adjacent relation with a portionof a reel 5 at the rear of the sprocket adjacent this reel and is spacedfrom this sprocket. See Figures 1 and 2. A second film face guard member15, provided with a forward curved portion 16 adapted to retain the filmon this sprocket 6, is carried with the guard member 13 in forwardlycontinuing relation therewith for pivotal movement with 'respect theretointo and out of film retaining relation with this sprocket by means of aspring blade member 17 secured to the adjacent end portions of the guardmembers 13 and 15, as deslgnated at 18, and providing the pivotalmovement of the guard member 15 by the fiexure thereof. 'See Figures 12, and 9. As shown the spring blade mem er. 17 yieldably urges the filmguard member 15. into film retaining relation with the sprocket 6 and astop lug 19 secured on the frame plate is engaged by the intermediateportion of the gua-rd member 15 to position this guard member in filmretaining relation with the sprocket 6. The guard member 15 is providedat its rear end with a rear\ wardly extending curved extension 2,1passing through an intermediate aperture 22 through the spring blademember 17 for the convenient manual actuation of the guard member 15 outof lm retaining relation with the sprocket 6 for the lacing and un.

lacing of film thereon. In Figure 1 the film retaining position of aguard member 15 is shown in full lines while itsposition out of -filmretaining position is shown in broken lines. a

Another secured on the outside of the frame plate/1, as designated at24, and extends about in adjacent relation with a portion of a reel 5adjacent and at the front of the sprocket 6 adjacent this reel. Thisguard 23 has the end portion 25 thereof adjacent the sprocket 6 Ireduced transversely and projecting into the space provided by thereduced diameter of the intermediate'portion of the sprocket 6, asdesignated at 26 in Figure 11, for 1y guidmgthe film to the uppersprocket and for stripping the same therefrom as it passes from thelower sprocket. The upper film guard 23 is provided with anotherstripper portion 27 which projects into the space 26 provided by thereduced diameter of the intermedate portion Aof the sprocket 6 on thebeing applied to both of portions 33 jstationary film'face guard 23 ismember 23 are provided with'longitudinally extending apertures 28therethrough. See Figures 1, 2, 9, and 10. On each of these film guards13 and 23 is secured, a one piece film contact member 29 formed of flatstock. These contact members are inclusive of resilient shank portions31 of relatively small cross section secured at one end, as designatedon the outer faces of respective of the guard members 13 and 23.Relatively large dished film contact portions 33 are formed at the freeendsof the shank portions 31 vof the contact members and have the convexsurfaces thereof facing inwardly of the peri ery of the flanges of thereel 5 and yieldably urged by the shankportions'31, through theapertures 28 of the guard members 13 and 23, inwardly of the peripheryof the reel fianges. Lugs 34 are formedat the edges of the contact areengageable with the outer faces of the guard members 13 and 23 to limitmovement of said contact portions 33 inwardly of the periphery of thereel flanges.

Thus is provided a simple, effective, and dependable guard means for thefilm, it being observed that the film is adequately guided and retainedwith respect to the reels 5 and the sprockets 6. The contact members 29of the contact members 29 and V serve to retain the nlm on the reels 5within the flanges thereof, at the same time permitting convenient axialremoval'and replacement ofthe reels 5, the convex surfaces of thecontact portions 33 having a cam action with the periphery of the reelflanges as the reels are axially removed or installed.

The intermittent film feed guide 7 is coni st-ructed as follows. Anapertured front film face guide plate 35 is secured on the rear face ofthe front wall ofthe casing and is provided at its outer edge with aguide rail 36 providing an outer film edge guide. A spring. guide member37 is secured on the outer face of the frame plate 4 and provides aninner film edge guide. The rear film face guide is in the form of a filmgatepivotally mounted for movement into and out of film guiding positionfor the convenient lacing and unlacing of film in the guide and will nowbe described.

Mounted on the frame plate 4 in a manner hereinafter described, is abearing stud 38 which projects outwardly from the-plate. A gate member39 of longltudinally extending U-shaped formation has the u )per ends ofthe legs thereof in` the form of concentrically bored ears 4l which arepivotally engaged on the projecting portion of thestud 38 for theangular movement of thel gate member into and out of film guidingposition, these ears being movable over the outer end .of the stud 38for the removal and replacement of the gate member. See Figures 1 to 6inclusive; The outer longitudinal edge portions of the legs of the saidU-shaped formation of the gate member are recessed to form a transverse.

channel 42 and the ends of this channel are undercut to form spacedparallel opposing relatively wide grooves 43. A rectangular film contactplate 44 has opposite relatively thin edges thereof engaged in saidgrooves 43 for removal and replacement thereof on the gate member andfor a slight facewise movement with respect thereto. f A stud 45 isdisposed normal to the plane of the late 44 and in central relationtherewith and) is slidably engaged in a central aperture through thein-v termediate portion ofthe'gate member 39 and in an aperture throughkan inwardly rojecting extension 46 on the outer leg o the U-shapedformation of the gate member immediately to the rear of the plate44. See pai'- ticularly Figures 2 and3. The forward end of the stud 45is engageable in a recess 47 formed in the rear face ofthe plate 44 tosecure the plate on the gate member, and a coiled compression spring 48encircles the v stud 45 and reacting on the gate member forclamp member52 is disposed on t e inside of l wardl engages a shoulder on this studto yielda ly engage inthe recess 47 and abut the bottom thereof toreleasably maintain the stud in engagement with therecess and toyieldably urge the plate 44 forwardly for a slight pressure engagementwith the film in the guide when the .gate member is in film guidingposition. It will be observed that the plate 44 may be quickly andconveniently removed from or replaced on the gate member 39 when thestud 45 is withdrawn from the recess 47 of the plate 44 against theinfluence of the spring 48.

The inner dered, as designated at 49, and the inner end of this stud isprovided with an eccentrically disposed head 51. See Figures 3, 6, 7,and 8. The stud 38 passes through a shouldered bore in the frame plate 4with the eccentric head 51 thereof engaged in the enlarged portion ofthe bore, so that angular movement of the stud effects eccentricadjustment of the outer portion thereof for the purpose of affording anadjustment of the gate member 39 to properly osition the same inrelation with theefront ace guide plate-35 when the gate member is infilm guiding osition. A

the frame plate 4 and overlies the head 51 of the stud 38 with one endthereof and is Vprovided with a positioning lug 53 at the other endthereof which` en ages in an aperture in the frame plate 4: Sgee Figures3, 4, and 6. A head screw 54 passes throu h an aperture through theframe plate 4 at 51e rear of and in adjacent parallelism with the stud38 and is screwthreaded into the intermediate porportion ofthe stud 38is shoulflanged ing the stud 38 in the angular adjustment t ereof.

The head of the screw 54 is disposed on the out-side of the frame plate4 and is undercut as designated at 55, and the inner ear 41 of the gatemember 39 is normally engaged in said undercut, as shown in Figure 6, to

limit outward movement of the gate'member oii'the stud 38. The inner ear41 of the gate member 39 is cut away, as designated at 56, so that whenthe gate member is angularly positioned out of its film guiding plane,as shown in Figure 3, said inner ear 41 is disengaged from the undercut55 to permit removal and replacement ofthe gate member on the stud 38with obvious convenience.

The hereinabove described film gate is disposed within the casing 1 on apivotal axis normal to the plane of the open side thereof for movementinto and out of film guiding position, and a stud 57 extends through andis fixed in coaxial bor s of the legs of the U- shaped formation of thegate member 39 at the lower or free end thereof. See Figures 1, 4, and5. This stud 57 projects inwardly and outwardly from the gate member andthe inner end of the same is engaged in a notch formation 58 of a springlatch member 59 mounted on the frame maintaining the gate in filmguiding position. See Figures l,

3, and 4. The outer end of the stud 57 projects into theplane of.

preventing positioning of the cover in closed position when the gate isout of film guiding position with obvious advantage.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferredembodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited `to the precisedetails of construction` shown as changes may readily be made withoutdeartin g from the spirit of my invention, 'but iiaving thus descri edmy invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent thefollowing 1. In a film reel guard the combination with a film face guardmember extending about in adjacent relation with a portion of theperiphery of an axially removable revoluble film reel,'and a filmcontacting member carried by said guard meinber and yieldably urged,through an openingv through said guard member, inwardly of theperipheryvof the reel fianges between the same'. Y I

2. In a Afilm reel guard 'the combination plate 4 for releasably 4asecond with a film face guard member extending about in adjacentrelation with a portion of the periphery of, an axially removableflanged revoluble film reel, land a film contacting member including aresilient shank portion secured at one end on the outer face of saidguard member and extending longitudinally thereof and a film contactportion at the free end of said shank portion and yieldably urged bysaid vshank portion, through an aperture through said guard member,inwardly of the periphery of the reel. flanges between the same.

3. In a film reel `guard the combination with a film face guard memberextending about in adjacent relation with a portion of 'the periphery ofan axially removable fianged revoluble film reel', and a one piece filmcontacting member formed of flat stock and including a 'resilient shankportion of relatively small cross section secured at one end on theouter face of said guard member and extending longitudinally thereof, arelatively large dished film Contact portion at the'free end-of saidshank' portion and having the convex surface thereof facing' inwardly oftheperiphery of the reel flangesand yieldably urged by said shankportions, through an aperture through said guard member, inwardly of theperiphery of the rcel flanges between the same, and lug means on theedge of said contact portion engageable with the outer face of saidguard member to limit movement ofsaid contact portion inwardly of theperiphery of the reel flanges. 4. In a device of the character describedthe combination with a revoluble film sprocket, of a stationary filmguard member, film guard member adapted for v retaining film on saidsprocket, and a spring blade member secured to said `guard memberswhereby said second guard member is carried with said first guard memberin continuing relation therewith for movement with respect theretointoand out of film retaining relation withjsaid sprocket.

5. In a-device of the character described the'combination with arevoluble filmsprocket, of al stationary lm reel 4film guard member, asecond film guard member adapted for -retaining film on said sprocket, aspring blademember secured to said guard members whereby said secondguard Amember is 'carried with said first guardmember in continuingrelation therewith for pivotal movement with respect thereto into andout of film retaining relation with said sprocket and yieldably urged bysaid spring member into said position, a stop for positioning saidsecond guard member 1n said film retainingrelation, and an actuating armformed integrally with said second guard member and extending from thepivotal axis thereof.

5 6. In -a device of the character described the combination tion of theperiphery ofsaid reel and spacedl from said sprocket, a second filmguard memr ber adapted-for retaining film on said sprocket, a springblade membersecured to said guard members whereby said second guardmember is carried with said first guard member in continuing relationtherewith for pivotal movement with respect thereto into and out of-film retaining relation with said sprocket and yieldably urged by saidspring member into said position, and a stop for positioning said secondguard member in said film retaining relation.

7. In a device of the character described the combination with arevoluble film sprocket and an axiallyremovable and revoluble flanged lmreel disposed in film feeding alinement therewith and adjacent the same,of a stationary film-guard member extending about inadjacent relationwith a portion of vthe periphery of said reel,v and stripper means onsaid guard member adapted to strip yend portion of said guard memberadapted to strip film from said sprocket.

9. In a device of the character described with" a revoluble filmsprocket and an axially removable land rev- -foluble fianged film reeldisposed in film feeding alinement therewith and adjacent the same, of astationary film. guard member extending about in adjacent relation witha portion of the peripheryof said reel and having an end portionthereofdisposed adjacent said sprocket, .a stripper formation on saidend portion of said guard member adapted to strip film from ysaidsprocket, a second stationary film guard member extending about inadjacent relation with a portion of thel periphery of said reel on theside of the sprocket opposite that on which said first mentioned guardmember extends and spaced f rom said sprocket, a third film guard membermounted in continuing relation with said second guard member formovement with respect thereto into and out of film yretaining relationwith said sprocket and yieldably urged into said position, and filmcontacting members carried on said first mentioned and -said gateengages,

second guard members and yieldably urged inwardly of the periphery ofthe flanges of said reel between the same.

10. In a motion picture machine the combination with a frame memberprovided with a bore therethrough, of a headed stud projecting from saidframe member and provided with an eccentric portion engaged in said borefor angular-adjustment therein and having the shoulder of the headthereof engaged against said frame member, means engaging the top of thehead of said studfor clamping said shoulder of said head against saidframe member, and a film guide gate pivotally mounted on the projectingportion of the stud for movement into and out of the film guiding planethereof.` j.

11. In a motion picture machine the combination with a frame platemember provided with a shouldered bore therethrough, of an eccentricallyheaded stud projecting from said frame member and having the eccentrichead thereof engaged inthe enlarged portion of said bore for angularadjustment therein and with the shoulder of said head engaging theshoulder of said bore, a clamp member overlying the top of said head andthe corresponding surface of said frame member, screw means for clampingsaid clamp member against said head and said frame member, and a filmguide gate pivotally mounted on the projecting portion of said stud formovement into and out of the film guiding plane thereof.

12. In a motion picture machine the combination with a frame memberprovided with a bore therethrough, of a headed stud projecting from saidframe member and provided with an eccentric portion engaged in said borefor angular adjustment therein and having the shoulder of the headthereof engaged against said frame member, means for clamping the headof said stud against said frame member including a headed screw passingthrough another aperture of said frame member in parallelism with saidstudJ and having its head disposed on the side of said frame membercorresponding with the projectlon of said stud, and a lm guide gateprovided with spaced concentrically bored ears pivotally engaged on theprojecting portion of said stud for movement of the gate 1nto and out.of the film guiding plane thereof, the head of said screw beingprovided with an undercut portion in which the inner ear of said earbeing formed to be disengaged from said undercut portion when said gateis angularly positioned out edges thereof engageable in said grooves forremoval and replacement thereof on the gate member, a retaining membermounted on said gate member for movement normal to the plane of saidplate engaged in said grooves and engageable in a central recess in therear face of said plate, and spring means reacting on said gate memberand yieldably urging said retaining member to engage in said recess andabut said plate.

141. In a film guide the combination with a gate member oflongitudinally extending U-shaped formation and having the outerlongitudinal edge portions of the legs of said formation recessed toform a. transverse channel and having the ends of said channel undercutto form spaced parallel opposing relatively wide grooves, of arectangular film contact plate lhaving opposite relatively thin edgesthereof engageable in said grooves for removal and replacement thereofon the gate member, a stud disposed normal to the plane of said plate incentral relation therewith and carried by said gate member forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto to engage and disengage acentral recess in the back surface of said plate, and a coiledcompression spring encircling said stud and reacting on said gate memberand yieldably urging said stud to engage in said recess and abut thebottom thereof.

15, In a motion picture camerathe combination with a casing providedwith an access opening, of a removable cover closing said opening, afilm guide gate within said casing and pivotally mounted on an axisnormal to the plane of said opening for movement into and out of filmguiding position, a stud on said gate and disposed parallel with thepivotal axis of said gate and projecting inwardly therefrom andoutwardly therefrom into the plane of the closed position of said ALBERTs. HOWELL;

of said plane to permit removal and replaceover the projecting end of

